Daily Republican., 1887-10-04
ROBBBRs TAKE a TRAIN.
The UDplsassnt MxRsrispcs Of frsvsl-
srs on . Westsrn Psnnsylvs.ta Rail-

The UDplsassns MxRsrispcs Of frsvsl-
srs on . Western fsnnsylvs.ia Rail-
ROAD.
GREKNsBURs, Pa, October 3.-The
passengers on way train running on the
Hewickley branch Of the Southwest Rail
road had q rather terrifying experience
early this morning. 1t reminded them OF
stories they had read Of banditti, high
waymen and road agents, who make
things more orless interesting to travel
era. In stage coachts and railroad trains
on tae distant frontiers. There were pis-
tolls and bowie knives and razors In the
air, and the engineer and his fireman,
three brakemen and the few passengers
on board the train were kept in an un-
wonted state Of excitement for several
hours.
Tn, Sewickley Road, which is q little
bran ch only ten miles long, runs through
the Pleasant Unity coke held There ere
plenty OF lonesome places along the road,
and II was at oGe Of these points, while
the train was running At slow rate early
this morning, that q band OF negroes,
yartously estimated at from twenty i've
to thirty, jumped aboard and caused
panic by their villainous demonstrations.
The party had been lying concealed
among the bushes thai line the road, and
1T q given signal from their leader, - tall,
herculean fellow with q coal blsck skin,
they jumped aboard. Three Of the party,
with draw n revoivers, entered the cab OF
the engine and held the engineer and
fireman In check. while the rest Of the
gang scattered themselves through the
train and collected the money and valu.
ablee of the passtnge AS there were
only = few OF the latter on board no at
,emIt 1T resistance was made, and the
robbers didn't get much booty.
After they had secured about every
thing of value on the train the fellows,
who were more or less drunk, proceeded
to drive the engineer and fireman from
the engine, and tor two hours q drunken
ruifian kept control OF the throttle, run.
ming II up and down the road, most OF
the time at q frightful rate Of speed.
There are TO houses or signs of life for
several miles along the road, and the
engineer aud fireman. who ran awsy as
soon as they had been driven from their
posts, were unable TO give an alarm In
time to apprehend the lawless band. The
frightened passengers meanwhile sat
helpless In the cars, In continuous fear Of
their lives. AT one time the drunken
engineer ran the train cloee TO the little
town of Mutual. A child that was
play ing along the track WAS struck by
the cow-catcher end hurled distance OF
twenty feet, but, fortunately, only had
Its arm broken.
When few minutes later mule that
was placidly feeding on the weeds that
luxuriate between the ties of the ricketty
old road bed was struck and instantly
lrAll n
eys set up yell Of delight and the engine
was almost derailed II was nearly ten
O'Clock when the negroes got tired OF
their drunken sport and abandoned the
train. They lett IL about half way up
the branch, at deserted spot, and the
passengers had to get of and walk to the
nearest station and recite their unpleas.
ant, II exciting, experience, which had
lasted several hours. Officers are scour-
ing the region in search OF the audaeious
band.